Solarthermalworld - Ambiente Italiahttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/taxonomy/term/23031
en“The market requires simple plug-and-play solutions”https://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/market-requires-simple-plug-and-play-solutions
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>Spanish-based supplier Endef is seeing increased demand for both its covered and uncovered PV-thermal systems produced in-house in Saragossa. Last year was the first in which the business installed devices at non-commercial buildings in Spain and implemented projects abroad. Endef is a member of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme’s Task 60 about PVT collectors, systems and solutions. “We take part in Task 60 to advance, jointly with companies, universities and research centres, the implementation of correct PVT solutions in the market,” said Elías Lorenzo, who works in the company’s marketing department.</strong></div>
<div>Photo: Endef</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Two years after Endef was founded in 2012, the business launched its first PVT product named Ecomesh. In 2018, it introduced Ecovolt, a non-covered unit. As it also sells conventional photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, there seems to be little more than a niche market for its PTV units. Still, they are the only ones directly manufactured by the company.<br /> </div>
<div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>
<p><strong>PVT product</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Ecomesh</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Ecovolt</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Technology</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Covered</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Uncovered</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Market launch</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2014</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2018</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>PV peak power</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>260 Wp</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>300 Wp</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Collector efficiency</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>50 %</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>47.2 %</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Gross area</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1.61 m²</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1.63 m²</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Weight</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>46 kg</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>18 kg</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Connection between PV cells<br />and thermal absorber</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>EVA adhesive</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Mechanical</p>
</td>
</tr></table><div><strong>Key specifications of PVT systems manufactured by Endef</strong></div>
<div>Source: Endef</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Encouraging outlook</strong></div>
<div>“Our aims for next year are to double sales of hybrid solar collectors and launch a third PVT product,” said Lorenzo. This sort of positive outlook is mainly the result of a new law regulating the on-site consumption of energy produced by PV systems. Even though it was approved by Spain’s parliament last October, some more rules regarding program applications will have to be added for the law to become effective. Still, it is expected to remove many of the limitations that currently prevent the on-site use of electricity. Lorenzo also said that “the internationalisation we are experiencing by putting up new installations in Finland or Uruguay suggests a bright future for both Endef and hybrid solar energy in general.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Beyond the typical use of these systems for hot water preparation in residential buildings, Endef is likewise testing whether its PVT collectors can be used in the commercial sector, for instance, to provide energy for district heating networks and process heat installations. The combination of a heat pump and a PVT system has been implemented in the form of a pilot plant that comprises a 6 kW<sub>el</sub> heat pump and 25 Ecomesh PVT collectors. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The company is also exploring, as additional heat storage, the integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into its PVT units, as part of a Horizon 2020 project called LowUP. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>To test these new LowUP devices, Endef has recently installed a PVT system at an office building in Seville. It consists of 20 Ecovolt units and 20 prototypes with PCM to provide both hot water and space heating. A total of 16 kg of PCM is filled into 32 aluminium pouches and put into the back of each PVT panel. By letting the PCM melt during peak hours around noon, surplus energy is stored in the material and could be released at the end of the day, when the sun has gone down. The PCM is also used to lower the operating temperature of the PV panels.<br /> </div>
<div>
<table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>PVT </strong><br /><strong>module</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>No. of </strong><br /><strong>panels</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>Photovoltaic </strong><br /><strong>power [kWp]</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>Solar surface </strong><br /><strong>area [</strong><strong>m²</strong><strong>]</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>Annual </strong><br /><strong>electricity </strong><br /><strong>yield [kWh]</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>Annual </strong><br /><strong>heat yield </strong><br /><strong>[kWh]</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>Specific </strong><br /><strong>electric </strong><br /><strong>yield </strong><br /><strong>[kWh/</strong><strong>m²</strong><strong>]</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>Specific </strong><br /><strong>thermal </strong><br /><strong>yield </strong><br /><strong>[kWh/</strong><strong>m²</strong><strong>]</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Office<br />building in<br />Seville</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">Ecovolt<br />uncovered</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">40</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">12</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">1.56</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">17,481</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">38,927</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">280</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">623</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Fire station<br />in Saragossa</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">Ecomesh<br />covered</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">28</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">7.3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">1.56</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">9,618</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">31,184</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">220</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">713</p>
</td>
</tr></table><p><br /><strong>Key figures and expected yields of two non-residential PVT installations in Spain</strong></p></div>
<div>
<div>Source: Endef</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>And the challenges?</strong></div>
<div>In Endef’s view, one key challenge of the PVT market is that, usually, installation companies possess special know-how about either solar thermal or photovoltaics but not about both. In addition, the energy flows of the PVT system would need one single monitoring and control system and, as underlined by Lorenzo, “the market requires simple plug-and-play solutions, which is why we have been working on the development and installation of monitoring tools based on open-source software and hardware.” There are also quality and policy issues to resolve, such as creating certification and test procedures for PVT collectors, setting up incentives for the technology and, last but not least, founding an industry association that will lobby for growing the sector.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div><br />Organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>EndeF: <a href="http://www.endef.com">www.endef.com</a></div>
<div>IEA SHC Task 60: <a href="http://task60.iea-shc.org">http://task60.iea-shc.org</a></div>
<div>LowUP project: <a href="http://lowup-h2020.eu">http://lowup-h2020.eu</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74641" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">District Heating</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74631" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Domestic Hot Water and Heating</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74651" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Heat Storage</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74661" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Process Heat</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_lead_image/public/img-20161115-wa0015.jpg?itok=sfpanW1W" width="835" height="470" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44001" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Spain</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/iea-shc-task-60" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC Task 60</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/pvt-systems" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">PVT systems</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/64251" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">PVT collectors</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/lowup" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">LowUP</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/pcm-materials" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">PCM materials</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/endef" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">EndeF</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_1">
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</script>Fri, 22 Feb 2019 09:40:33 +0000Baerbel Epp70014 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/market-requires-simple-plug-and-play-solutions#commentsTesting collector durability in Chinahttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/testing-collector-durability-china
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>How well will evacuated tube collectors made in China hold up after prolonged exposure to sunlight? The answer to this question can be found in a new report, titled <em>Development of Accelerated Ageing Tests for Evacuated Tube Collectors</em>. Created by the China Academy of Building Research (CABR) as part of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme’s Task 57, it was published in November 2018 and summarises the findings from exposing evacuated tube collectors (ETCs) to sunlight for between 88 and 241 days (see the attached document), with the aim of developing accelerated ageing methods. The photo shows a section of the housing development in the Pinggu District in the east part of Beijing, where 285 homes have been equipped with solar space heating.</strong></div>
<div>Photo: Sunrain</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The long-term reliability of evacuated tube collectors is becoming an increasingly important issue in China, in particular because it can have great influence over the risks associated with investing in large solar fields. China is the world’s biggest solar thermal market: Nearly 480 million m² of collectors (336 GW<sub>th</sub>) have been installed in the country so far and 90 % of them are evacuated tube ones.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Four technologies in the spotlight</strong></div>
<div>The report concentrates on what happens to the thermal performance of ETCs which have been exposed to sunlight over a longer period of time, mainly because of irradiation levels and high operating temperatures. Over 100 kits of solar products made by 70 different manufacturers based in one of the following provinces were tested for between 143 days and 241 days, at ambient temperatures ranging from 24.2 °C to 26.7 °C: Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shandong and Zhejiang. Collector performance was rated according to Chinese National Standard GB/T 4271 and European one EN 12975-2 before and after accelerated ageing, with units for long-term testing chosen at random.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>According to the report, exposure hardens the rubber rings of collectors. As a result, the distance between the tubes and the manifold increases, leading to greater heat loss. Furthermore, the performance of the insulation materials of the manifold drops, due to the high temperatures reached in the tubes during the exposure. <br /> </div>
<div><img alt="Source: CABR" title="Source: CABR" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/ageing4.png" width="495" height="369" /></div>
<div><strong>Damaged manifold insulation as a result of long-term exposure</strong></div>
<div>Source: CABR</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The National Centre for Quality Supervision and Testing of Solar Heating Systems in Beijing opted for testing three evacuated tube collector technologies typically sold on the Chinese market:</div>
<ul><li>Glass-metal sealed evacuated tube collectors </li>
<li>Heat pipe evacuated tube collectors </li>
<li>U-type evacuated tube collectors</li>
</ul><div><br />These ETC technologies were compared with flat plate collectorsthroughout 88 days of exposure to sunlight. </div>
<div><img alt="Source: Task 57" title="Source: Task 57" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/ageing2.png" width="445" height="376" /></div>
<div><strong>Comparing a glass-metal sealed evacuated tube collector unit before and after exposure indicates a significant drop in performance. The report includes similar graphs for other collector technologies.</strong></div>
<div>Source: Task 57</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Post-exposure performance fails standard</strong><br /> </div>
<div> </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="595"><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap">
<p align="center">Before aging test</p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap">
<p align="center">After aging test</p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center">Increase of a<sub>1</sub></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>Eta<sub>0</sub></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>a<sub>1</sub> [W/m<sup>2</sup>K]</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Eta<sub>0</sub></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>a<sub>1</sub> [W/m<sup>2</sup>K]</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>FPC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>0.769</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>5.055</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0.658</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>7.669</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>52 %</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>Glass-metal sealed ETC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>0.752</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>2.462</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0.737</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>4.015</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>63 %</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>Heat pipe ETC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>0.768</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>2.361</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0.694</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>7.910</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>235%</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>U-pipe ETC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>0.738</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>2.444</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0.620</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>6.438</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>163%</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>Requirements by Chinese Standard for ETC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>0.72</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>6.0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
<td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
</tr><tr><td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>Requirements by Chinese Standard for FPC</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>0.60</p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap">
<p>3.0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
<td nowrap="nowrap"> </td>
</tr></table><div><strong>Performance coefficients before and after testing. Eta<sub>0</sub> represents the starting point of the efficiency curve on the y-axis, while a<sub>1</sub> is the initial heat loss coefficient.</strong></div>
<div>
<div>Source: Task 57</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The results indicate that, especially due to unfavourable heat loss coefficients, output could no longer meet the requirements of the Chinese national standard after the tests (see the table above). Another conclusion is that FPCs seem less affected by exposure to sunlight than ETC technologies. The heat loss coefficient a<sub>1</sub> of FPCs increased by around 50 %, while it rose by between 63 % and 235 % in the case of ETCs.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>IEA SHC Task 57: <a href="http://task57.iea-shc.org/">http://task57.iea-shc.org/</a></div>
</div>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-files field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="application/pdf" src="/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png" /> <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/news/file/2019-02-14/task_57_china_etc-accelerated-aging.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=2455235" data-fid="16349" target="_blank">task_57_china_etc-accelerated-aging.pdf</a> 2.5 Mb <span class="dlcount">[<span class="dlcount-number" id="dlcount-16349">25</span> download(s)]</span></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74631" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Domestic Hot Water and Heating</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-six-pillars field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74811" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Standards</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_lead_image/public/sunrain_space_heating_project.png?itok=F5CKPSMn" width="795" height="470" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/45601" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">China</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/iea-shc-task-57" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC Task 57</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/sunrain" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sunrain</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/36671" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CABR</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/41241" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">National Centre for Quality Supervision and Testing of Solar Heating Systems</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_2">
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Thu, 14 Feb 2019 16:16:22 +0000Baerbel Epp70010 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/testing-collector-durability-china#commentsDrainback solution for industrial sectorhttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/drainback-solution-industrial-sector
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>Four weeks ago, Belgian technology supplier Sunoptimo started up a solar thermal turnkey system at Lys Services, a tank cleaning company based in Merville, in northern France. The hydraulic components that are part of the 1,270 m² installation are housed inside prefabricated containers and will drain all the heat transfer fluid from the collectors installed on top of the container units should the solar loop be at risk of freezing or overheating. Considering that the system has an economic life of 20 years and that the project has benefitted from an investment subsidy and tax deductions, the cleaning business can expect the cost of heat to drop from about 100 EUR/MWh to 44 EUR/MWh. </strong></div>
<div>Photo: Sunoptimo</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The solar thermal installation consists of four Opticubes, standardised drainback systems measuring 300 m² each. The collectors which are part of an Opticube are mounted on a special substructure and are tilted to allow for a 20-foot container to be put underneath. This container, assembled prior to delivery, houses the hydraulic components, including a solar pump station, a controller, a drainback vessel and a 10,000-litre storage tank. The Belgian business <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/germanybelgium-container-solutions-standardise-commercial-solar-thermal-systems">launched Opticube</a> in December 2015 and has so far sold drainback systems in six countries. The pipes exiting the four containers lead into a fifth called Opticube Link, which supplies the combined solar energy to a heat exchanger installed in the customer’s building.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Opticube is a drainback system using glycol as the heat transfer fluid, circulated by a pump in a closed solar loop. When the pump is not operating, the glycol is drained from the pipes and the collectors to protect the system from freezing or overheating. As components are drained by the force of gravity alone, an Opticube is a reliable way of protecting an installation from sub-zero temperatures on cold nights and overheating at weekends, when the tank cleaning business may close early. Glycol removed from the circuit is collected in drainback vessels inside the containers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Hot water for cleaning</strong></div>
<div>Lys Services requires large quantities of hot water each day, between 60 m³ and 70 m³ at a temperature of 80 °C. To lower its heating bill and, at the same time, reduce its ecological footprint, it began searching for a new solution. The company now uses solar energy to preheat water and, subsequently, a gas boiler to raise the temperature to meet process requirements. A system bypass provides the required level of integration, prompting the installation to switch to solar should the temperature inside the storage tank be higher than that of the feed water.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Overall, the solar system is expected to meet about 35 % of the company’s yearly hot water requirements. It will produce an estimated 500 MWh annually, at an average efficiency of between 35 % and 40 %, which corresponds to a specific yield of 394 kWh/m²a.<br /><img alt="Photo: Sunoptimo" title="Photo: Sunoptimo" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/sunoptimo_1.jpg" width="1360" height="869" /></div>
<div><strong>Opticubes, and containers underneath, at Lys Services in France</strong></div>
<div>Photo: Sunoptimo</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Attractive system economics</strong></div>
<div>The tank cleaning business decided to invest in an on-premises solar system without asking for money from third-party investors or banks. The investment was about EUR 800,000, or 630 EUR/m², which includes the cost of equipment, installation and piping leading to the factory. “This year, our aim is to lower production costs once again, so that we can offer 300 m² turnkey Opticube systems, including installation, for EUR 423 per square metre in Europe,” said Jérôme Delooz, Marketing &amp; Logistics Manager at Sunoptimo. "To us, turnkey means we put the containers in place, mount the collectors on the substructure, and install the pipes running between the containers and the collectors. The only two things that need to be ready when we arrive are the concrete foundation and a link to the factory process."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Lys Services was awarded a EUR 500,000 grant via French energy agency Ademe’s funding call <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/grants-large-scale-commercial-solar-plants">Large Solar Thermal Installations</a>, which has allowed the company to recoup more than 60 % of the investment costs. Likewise, it was able to use a tax relief measure, which is no longer available, to make a EUR 36,000 deduction.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Without standard and additional deductions, the project came to EUR 174,000. Considering its estimated thermal output of 500 MWh a year, the replacement for the company’s natural gas system will save about EUR 20,000 annually. Sunoptimo said the cost of solar heat would be as little as 14 EUR/MWh during the next 20 years, a competitive offer in the industrial sector. The average cost of heat, previously about 100 EUR/MWh, would drop to 44 EUR/MWh thanks to the solar contribution.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong><br /> </div>
<div>Organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>Sunoptimo: <a href="http://www.sunoptimo.com">www.sunoptimo.com</a></div>
<div>Ademe: <a href="http://www.ademe.fr">www.ademe.fr</a></div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74661" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Process Heat</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-six-pillars field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74851" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Finance and Incentives</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_lead_image/public/ref_lys_services_-_champ_solaire_0.jpg?itok=d96xl7Nj" width="826" height="470" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43931" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Belgium</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/de-risking" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">de-risking</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/67621" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">drain back</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/52241" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">large-scale solar thermal installations</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/opticube" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Opticube</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/sunoptimo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sunoptimo</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/lys-services" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lys Services</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30181" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ADEME</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_3">
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Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:09:31 +0000Baerbel Epp69998 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/drainback-solution-industrial-sector#commentsInnovative solar-assisted heat pumpshttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/innovative-solar-assisted-heat-pumps
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>The principal objective of a recently launched, EU-funded project named SunHorizon is to optimise solar-assisted heat pump systems in residential and commercial buildings. The endeavour will demonstrate a wide variety of solutions for both technologies, such as thermal compression, adsorption and reversible operation regarding heat pumps and photovoltaic, thermal and PVT systems in the case of solar, at eight locations. It will also involve the creation of a cloud-based monitoring platform to develop enhanced, KPI-focused algorithms and tools to maximise solar yields and carry out predictive maintenance.</strong></div>
<div>Image: SunHorizon project</div>
<div> </div>
<div>SunHorizon is an industry-driven consortium comprising 21 partners and includes technology suppliers such as German chiller manufacturer Fahrenheit, French PVT equipment manufacturer Dualsun, French-based BoostHeat, which produces gas-fired thermal compression heat pumps, TVP Solar, an evacuated flat plate collector manufacturer headquartered in Switzerland, heating solutions provider BDR Thermea from the Netherlands and Ratiotherm Heizung + Solartechnik headquartered in Germany. Launched last October in Milan, Italy, the project is being coordinated by Italian-based RINA Consulting. It will run for four years and end in September 2022.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“One focus of SunHorizon under the lead of Schneider Electric Italy has been to develop a platform providing cloud-based monitoring. The project partners are currently sifting through data on demonstration site buildings, as well as solar and heat pump systems, to evaluate the most proper modelling approach to analyse the data,” explained David Chèze, a researcher who works at the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in France. He also participates in Task 60, titled <em>Application of PVT Collectors</em>, a research platform set up under the aegis of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling programme. The SunHorizon project will add four additional case studies to the Task 60 database on operational systems. The cooperation also enables partners in the project to use and improve upon approaches shared in Task 60, such as those for assessing systems and buildings, testing PVT installations and evaluating key performance indicators.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Eight pilot systems up for testing</strong></div>
<div>As part of SunHorizon, eight systems are to be designed, built and monitored to demonstrate different solar-heat pump configurations specified in the following and listed in brief in the table below:</div>
<ul><li>Concept 1: Parallel integration of heat pump and solar (solar used for space heating and hot water, with heat pump covering periods of no sunshine)</li>
<li>Concept 2: Combination of solar-assisted and parallel integration (PVT thermal output meets as much heat demand as possible and surplus electricity powers appliances)</li>
<li>Concept 3: Solar-driven heat pump for cooling (solar used for space heating and hot water in winter and thermal compressor operated in summer)</li>
<li>Concept 4: Parallel integration of solar and heat pump (PVT thermal output meets some demand for space heating and hot water and PVT provides electricity for reversible heat pump)</li>
</ul><div> </div>
<div>The combination of solar thermal and photovoltaic via PVT modules will be tested at four of the eight sites, namely Nuremberg, Madrid, Verviers (at a swimming pool) and Riga.<br /> </div>
<div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>
<p><strong>Location</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Climate</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Solar / heat<br />pump </strong><br /><strong>integration<br />concept</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Building type</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Berlin (Germany)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Cold</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>1</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Small residential</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Nuremberg (Germany)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Cold</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Large residential</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Sant Cugat (Spain)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Warm</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Tertiary (civic centre)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Madrid (Spain)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Average</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>4</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Large residential</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>San Lorenzo (Spain)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Warm</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>4</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Large residential</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Verviers (Belgium)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Average</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>1</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Tertiary (sports centre)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Verviers (Belgium)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Average</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Tertiary(swimming pool)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Riga (Latvia)</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Cold</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Small residential</strong></p>
</td>
</tr></table><div><strong>List of pilot plants that are part of SunHorizon, a project funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 818329)</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>SunHorizon project (website under construction): <a href="http://www.sunhorizon-project.eu">www.sunhorizon-project.eu</a></div>
<div>IEA SHC Task 60: <a href="http://task60.iea-shc.org/">http://task60.iea-shc.org/</a></div>
</div>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74631" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Domestic Hot Water and Heating</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_lead_image/public/sunhorizon.png?itok=bG1XH-gE" width="688" height="470" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43941" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Germany</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44141" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">France</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43951" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Italy</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Switzerland</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44011" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Netherlands</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/pvt-systems" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">PVT systems</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/iea-shc-task-60" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC Task 60</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/sunhorizon" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">SunHorizon</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/cloud-based-monitoring" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cloud-based monitoring</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/horizon-2020" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Horizon 2020</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/fahrenheit" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fahrenheit</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/dualsun" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dualsun</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/boostheat" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BoostHeat</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43001" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">TVP Solar</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/31871" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BDR Thermea</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/ratiotherm" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ratiotherm</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/rina-consulting" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RINA Consulting</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/schneider-electric" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Schneider Electric</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/cea" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CEA</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_4">
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Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:57:10 +0000Baerbel Epp69995 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/innovative-solar-assisted-heat-pumps#commentsInitial pilot plants for industrial solar steam https://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/initial-pilot-plants-industrial-solar-steam
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>Concentrating solar heat is a valuable energy resource in Morocco, especially for industrial applications. A call for project proposals has invited businesses to submit plans for constructing industrial solar heat systems, of which three will be selected to be supported by the World Bank. The call is part of MENA CSP KIP, short for <em>The Middle East and North Africa Concentrating Solar Power Knowledge and Innovation Program</em>. The photo shows one of few industrial solar heat installations existing in Morocco today. This 50 kW<sub>th</sub> solar thermal system on the roof of Moroccan-based COPAG in Taroudant consists of parabolic trough collectors which generate heat to sterilise milk production equipment.</strong></div>
<div><br /><img alt="Morocco" title="Morocco" style="margin: 7px 5px; float: left;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/chs_morocco_2_kl.png" width="373" height="187" /><strong>Photo: Cluster Solaire</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Morocco is experiencing a 6 % annual increase in demand for energy, with a 95 % dependence on imports. This demand is the driver behind the country’s ambitious national energy strategy, a key part of which has been to deploy a great number of local renewable energy generation devices to secure domestic supply and protect the environment.<br /> </div>
<div>To ensure targets would be met, Cluster Solaire was founded in 2014 as a network that concentrates on the development of solar technology suppliers in Morocco. It has been part of MENA CSP KIP since 2017. Nadia Zeddou, Business Development Manager at Cluster Solaire, presented Morocco CSP KIP as a one goal, three actions programme (see the chart below) at the 1<sup>st</sup> Concentrating Solar Heat (CSH) Workshop in Amman, Jordan, in September 2018, when other participating countries showed their CSP KIP ventures as well.</div>
<div><img alt="Source: Cluster Solaire" title="Source: Cluster Solaire" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/morocco_programmekip.png" width="997" height="350" /></div>
<div><strong>Morocco CSP KIP: Three actions, one goal</strong></div>
<div>Source: Cluster Solaire</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Morocco CSP KIP intends to carry out small CSP and CSH projects, first by identifying the industrial sectors for which they have the highest potential and then by developing pilot projects. These two actions will be backed up by a capacity-building initiative: An initial webinar, which was held in July, was later followed by a five-day workshop in Casablanca in October. More training sessions have been planned for this year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Few plants but high potential</strong></div>
<div><img alt="Morocco" title="Morocco" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/csh_morocco.png" width="433" height="577" /></div>
<div>The findings from a recent CSH potential study clearly showed that the industrial sectors most ideally suited for heat at low and medium temperatures are agri-food, pulp and paper, automotive and textiles.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For this reason, Cluster launched the country’s first-of-its-kind call for proposals in July 2018, with the intent of constructing CSH systems with a thermal capacity of up to 400 kW<sub>th</sub>. “Of the 10 projects we have received, we have pre-selected six. They are currently being analysed from a technical standpoint by German-based research institute Fraunhofer ISE, with the aim of implementing three of these installations,” said Zeddou. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Linear Fresnel collectors are part of all six endeavours, regardless of whether they are used to generate steam at textile manufacturers, agribusinesses or, in the form of air cooling, residential buildings. “These projects need to last for 12 months, must be scalable, and have to be managed by a company based in Morocco, in partnership with a technology provider,” said Zeddou. The global grant budget was still under negotiation, since there were smaller and larger projects on the short list, she confirmed.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Organisations and events mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>Cluster Solaire: <a href="http://www.clustersolaire.ma/">www.clustersolaire.ma/</a></div>
<div>MENA CSP KIP: <a href="http://www.menacspkip.com">www.menacspkip.com</a></div>
<div>Presentations from 1st Concentrating Solar Heat (CSH) Workshop are available for download at</div>
<div><a href="http://cmimarseille.org/menacspkip/1st-concentrating-solar-heat-csh-workshop/">http://cmimarseille.org/menacspkip/1st-concentrating-solar-heat-csh-work...</a></div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74661" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Process Heat</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-six-pillars field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74851" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Finance and Incentives</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74831" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Training and Education</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/45381" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Morocco</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43941" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Germany</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/concentrating-solar-heat" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Concentrating Solar Heat</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/mena-csp-kip" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">MENA CSP KIP</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/48141" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">workshops</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/cluster-solaire" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Cluster Solaire</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/25951" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">World Bank</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/copag" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">COPAG</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/fraunhofer-ise" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fraunhofer ISE</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_5">
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Thu, 03 Jan 2019 07:00:00 +0000Baerbel Epp69991 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/initial-pilot-plants-industrial-solar-steam#commentsQuality and certification can push solar marketshttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/quality-and-certification-can-push-solar-markets
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>That a wider use of quality standards in the solar thermal sector leads to increased internationalisation and cost saving for manufacturers was the conclusion of those listening to a webinar on <em>Solar Standards and Certificatio</em>n on 12 December. Organised by the IEA SHC’s Solar Academy, the event was moderated by Shawn Martin, who has just started in his role as the new head of the Global Solar Certification Network (GSCN). After a three-year run, the IEA SHC’s Task 57, <em>Solar Standards and Certification</em>, came to a close at the end of 2018. </strong></div>
<div>Photo: Fraunhofer ISE<br /> </div>
<div>Not too long ago, members of Task 57 had provided their input to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and its Technical Committee 180, said Task 57 Chair Jan Erik Nielsen. They had put forth four draft proposals for new standards on solar thermal systems and components: <br /> </div>
<ul><li>Test methods for mechanical load on support structures of close-coupled solar water heating systems</li>
<li>Test methods and requirements for building-integrated collectors and systems </li>
<li>Test methods for close-coupled solar water heating systems - reliability and safety</li>
<li>Check of solar collector field performance</li>
</ul><div><br />Furthermore, a position paper, said to be completed by January, would give information on how to develop and harmonise ISO standards, identify barriers to creating and maintaining them, and list requirements that need to be fulfilled by industry, national agencies and test labs.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Harmonisation saves money</strong></div>
<div>The webinar’s second presentation was given by Harald Drück, Chairman of the <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/global-solar-certification-network-facilitating-international-high-quality-collector-trade">GSCN</a>. He reported on current efforts of GSCN establish mutual recognition of test and inspection reports between different certification schemes. Up until now, the GSCN network has concentrated on solar collector testing, as laid out in the most recent ISO 9806, issued in 2017. The network is now established and has been the driver behind the alignment of standards across several regions and the creation of a shared set of working rules.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Solar thermal manufacturers can save time and money by joining the GSCN. One example given during the presentation showed how businesses which have eight certified products and operate across three GSCN-supported regions could save EUR 184,000 or 61 % of costs in the first year, as well as EUR 6,400 or 53 % of costs every year thereafter.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The network also includes a Quality Assurance Committee to determine whether a certification body or test laboratory that applies for membership fulfils every requirement set by the GSCN. This basically means that it reviews the skills and expertise of the organisation. Although accreditation is mandatory, it alone will not be enough to become a member.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Drück said that the GSCN included five collector manufacturers, three certification and two inspection bodies and five test laboratories. Among those applications still pending was one from the solar thermal industry, while another six were from certification and three from inspection bodies, and two from test laboratories.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>A guide to familiarising solar professionals with ISO standards</strong></div>
<div>Standards on quality were not always easy to read and interpret, so that Task 57 had published a <em>Guide to Standard ISO 9806:2017</em>, Korbinian Kramer said during his presentation. Kramer heads a working group on the testing of heating and cooling technologies at Fraunhofer ISE.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 65-page book was not a mere carbon copy of the standard. Rather, it offered guidance on interpreting and applying the rules by providing real-life examples and advice based on system tests (see the attached document). It was aimed at test facilities, certification bodies, regulatory agencies and the solar industry.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This document contains additional explanations for each test procedure defined in the standard: a flow chart with the main steps, an image of the test set-up, a text box which lists key boundary conditions, a tips and tricks section, another text box full of important information that a test lab will expect from manufacturers and information about typical results.</div>
<div><br /><img alt="Harmonisation of SHAMCI" title="Harmonisation of SHAMCI" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/harmonisation_of_shamci.png" width="1282" height="809" /><br /><strong>Certification schemes with some differences </strong><br />Source: RCREEE (see attached Solar Keymark Network report on page 5)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As highlighted, harmonising certification schemes has been a key issue for manufacturers, especially for those that operate in several world regions. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Khalid Salmi, who works at the <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/steps-towards-certification-arab-countries">SHAMCI</a> Secretariat and gave the last presentation of the webinar, said that harmonising certification schemes around the world could contribute to knowledge and technology transfer and make for faster learning curves (see the chart above). However, he also noted the differences between SHAMCI, the certification scheme that is being supported by the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) in Arab countries, and Solar Keymark.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>First, the scope of Solar Keymark is much broader: SHAMCI only allows solar collectors and solar hot water systems, whereas Keymark also includes factory-made and custom-built systems, as well as storage, combi-storage and control equipment. In addition, SHAMCI has been less restrictive about accreditation, which is not required until the end of 2020. And while SHAMCI was developed primarily by certification bodies and the RCREEE, the Solar Keymark label was mainly the result of industry efforts and saw a much wider and more active involvement of many different stakeholder categories.<br /> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong><br /> </div>
<div>Organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>IEA SHC Task 57: <a href="http://task57.iea-shc.org/">http://task57.iea-shc.org/</a></div>
<div>ISES International: <a href="http://www.ises.org">www.ises.org</a></div>
<div>Video of the webinar: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1969&amp;v=iVcTL59_82E">www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1969&amp;v=iVcTL59_82E</a></div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-files field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="application/pdf" src="/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png" /> <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/news/file/2019-01-01/guide-to-standard-iso-9806-2017-2.0.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=3129890" data-fid="16269" target="_blank">guide-to-standard-iso-9806-2017-2.0.pdf</a> 3.1 Mb <span class="dlcount">[<span class="dlcount-number" id="dlcount-16269">10</span> download(s)]</span></span></div><div class="field-item odd"><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="application/pdf" src="/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png" /> <a href="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/news/file/2019-01-08/skn_n0354r0-comp_shamci_skn_for_scf_wg.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=716330" data-fid="16287" target="_blank">skn_n0354r0-comp_shamci_skn_for_scf_wg.pdf</a> 716.3 Kb <span class="dlcount">[<span class="dlcount-number" id="dlcount-16287">7</span> download(s)]</span></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-six-pillars field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74821" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Certification</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74811" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Standards</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_lead_image/public/test_facility_ise.png?itok=MwlIeNbk" width="628" height="470" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43941" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Germany</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/iea-shc-task-57" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC Task 57</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/guide-standard-iso-98062017" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Guide to Standard ISO 9806:2017</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/shamci" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Shamci</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/55311" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Solar Keymark</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/iea-shc-solar-academy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC Solar Academy</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/fraunhofer-ise" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fraunhofer ISE</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/gscn" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">GSCN</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28001" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RCREEE</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_6">
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Wed, 02 Jan 2019 07:00:00 +0000Baerbel Epp69990 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/quality-and-certification-can-push-solar-markets#commentsCalifornia between PV mandate and buildings ready for solar heathttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/california-between-pv-mandate-and-buildings-ready-solar-heat
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><strong>This year, California´s energy policy has been clearly focused on pushing PV. As recently as September, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill committing the Golden State to zero-carbon electricity supply by 2045. Likewise, revised Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved in May, will require photovoltaic systems on new residential buildings from January 2020 onwards.</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>“We tried very hard to stress the fact that the heat sector needs decarbonisation strategies too. But the state government is not that interested in thermal – they like heat pumps and PV,” said Les Nelson, Vice President of Solar Heating &amp; Cooling Programs at the California-based International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Building Energy Efficiency Standards support all clean energy technologies that can reduce energy consumption in buildings and are revised every three years through an extensive stakeholder and analysis process. The updates were approved in May and will take effect in January 2020. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Moving to cut energy use in new homes by more than 50 %” is how the CEC promoted the latest update in a May press release. The line refers to new regulations that stipulate the installation of solar PV systems in residential newbuilds. “Under these new standards, buildings will perform better than ever. At the same time, they contribute to a reliable grid,” Commissioner Andrew McAllister was quoted as saying in the press release. He is the CEC’s lead on energy efficiency.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Building Energy Efficiency Standards show how half-heartedly the government has been dealing with solar heating. Solar water heaters have been part of the standards since their revision in 2013, but the relevant mandatory regulations are much weaker than the new rules on solar PV systems. Section 110.10 describes “mandatory requirements for solar ready buildings.” It applies to a wide variety of newbuilds, including single-family and multi-family buildings, hotels and motels, and non-residential buildings. Nevertheless, the owner of a newbuild must only provide a minimum-size solar zone on the building – there is no requirement that a solar thermal system be installed. The minimum zone must be an area of 80 ft² (7.4 m²) on buildings with roof areas of less than or equal to 10,000 ft² (929 m²) and 160 ft² (14.9 m²) on those with areas greater than 10,000 ft². </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Unfortunately, the solar-ready requirement has not seemed to lead to much discernible business for the solar thermal industry. But it’s better to have it in the regulations than not,” said Nelson. Ed Murray, President of the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA), underlined that the new PV regulations offered some benefits, albeit indirectly: “The increased attention on solar will be good for solar thermal, as it is a very effective measure for heating water. And the new PV regulation will raise public awareness of energy consumption in everyone’s home.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Solar water heating is described in Chapter 5 of the compliance manual, which is the technical part of the building regulations. In new multi-family buildings with central water heating, solar water heating will continue to be a prescriptive measure. The compliance manual stipulates a minimum 20 % solar fraction in zone 1, up to 9 % and 35 % in zone 10 and 16. “Being a prescriptive measure, solar water heaters are included in the standard building calculation for the energy code performance method and, therefore, every multi-family building with central water heating must either have solar thermal or make up the difference with another measure,” Murray said when asked about the impact of the measure. In addition, any solar savings fraction above the minimum prescriptive amount would be credited when calculating performance.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Murray also sees a chance to expand the role of solar water heating during the building regulations’ next revision cycle, which has been underway. “The next cycle will focus on larger multi-family buildings, and we will continue to argue the carbon-reducing potential of solar thermal in that process.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>CALSSA: <a href="https://calssa.org">https://calssa.org</a></div>
<div>IAPMO: <a href="http://www.iapmo.org">www.iapmo.org</a><br /> </div>
<div>Download the chapters of Building Energy Efficiency Standards:</div>
<div><a href="https://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2019standards/rulemaking/documents/2018-05-09_hearing/2019_Revised_EnergyCode.php">https://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2019standards/rulemaking/documents/201...</a></div>
<div> </div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74631" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Domestic Hot Water and Heating</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-content-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_lead_image/public/usa_california_portraits_gr.png?itok=hCgalp-n" width="826" height="470" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/45931" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">USA</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44491" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">California</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/building-energy-efficiency-standards" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Building Energy Efficiency Standards</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/multi-family-buildings" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">multi-family buildings</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30511" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CEC</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/42681" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/calssa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CALSSA</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_7">
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Mon, 03 Dec 2018 20:51:11 +0000Baerbel Epp69951 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/california-between-pv-mandate-and-buildings-ready-solar-heat#commentsPVT and seasonal storage: innovative technologies in Spainhttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/pvt-and-seasonal-storage-innovative-technologies-spain
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>
<div><img alt="" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/abora1.png" /><strong>Local production of PVT panels and systems which achieve high solar fractions by using seasonal storage: This is the main objective of Spanish start-up company Abora, based in Saragossa. It has already installed several hot water PVT systems at multi-family houses, sports centres and nursing homes and a combined heating and cooling unit at a hotel in Gerona in the northeast of Spain. Four more installations are in the pipeline and each consists of a PVT system, seasonal storage and a heat pump. Abora participates in Task 60, <em>Application of PVT Collectors</em>, a research platform set up under the aegis of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling programme. The photo shows 64 PVT collectors providing heat and electricity for 162 people in a home for the elderly in Málaga.</strong></div>
<div>Photo: Abora</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“As a start-up, we are taking part in Task 60 to learn about PVT market development in other countries and let third-party experts analyse our monitored systems,” Alejandro del Amo, the company’s CEO, said. Abora was founded in the summer of 2017 after raising EUR 2 million of capital and accumulating five years of previous experiences in manufacturing PVT panels. The company has a permanent staff of 20 people, of which about 50 % are in charge of PVT collector manufacturing. Production output in 2018 is around 1,200 panels. The company, which concentrates on commercial clients, such as hotels, hospitals, nursing homes and industrial facilities, expects sales to grow to 2,500 units in 2019. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Additional cover to increase efficiency</strong></div>
<div>Abora manufactures glazed PVT panels, which consist of monocrystalline cells that are laminated together with a copper absorber. The absorber has a selective Tinox coating because a small portion of irradiation penetrates the PV cells and reaches the absorber surface. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>To increase efficiency, the hybrid components feature the use of an inert gas between the PV cells and the glass cover, as well as some treatments, to decrease reflection and heat loss (from convection, conduction and radiation). The PVT parts have also been insulated on the back. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Del Amo said: “Thanks to this innovative device, we can achieve payback periods of between 5 and 6 years without incentives. This means that our solutions are not only suited for new, larger residential buildings but also existing ones, where users usually require measures with a fast return on investment.”</div>
<div><br /><br /><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>
<p align="center"> </p>
</td>
<td colspan="2">
<p align="center"><strong>PVT system</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p align="center"> </p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>aH60</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>aH72</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Gross area</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>1.65 m<sup>2</sup></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>1.96 m<sup>2</sup></strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Weight </strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>43 kg</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>50 kg</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Photovoltaic peak power</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>260 W<sub>p</sub></strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>300 W<sub>p</sub></strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Collector efficiency</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>0.59</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>0.59</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>Stagnation temperature</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>155 °C</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>150 °C</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p><strong>No. of hydraulic connections</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>4</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p align="center"><strong>4</strong></p>
</td>
</tr></table><div><strong>Technical features of Abora´s hybrid panels, tested at CENER in Spain. Solar Keymark certification is in the works and will most likely be issued in early 2019.</strong></div>
<div>Source: Abora</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Be ambitious and store solar heat for winter</strong></div>
<div>One key approach to fulfil Abora’s vision for the market is to be more ambitious when it comes to the role of solar heat: In a typical residential building in Spain, occupants need 80 % of total heat demand for space heating and only 20 % for domestic hot water. “When you look at national building regulations, which set a 50 % renewable heat requirement for hot water use, solar covers only 10 % of all thermal needs,” said del Amo.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It was the main reason behind the company’s decision to offer solutions with seasonal heat storage, which allows for higher solar fractions and provides heat in buildings such as schools, where consumption is low in summer.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The company’s strategy for the market lists seasonal storage as a plus also for those customers who are not focused that much on maximising profitability but rather on meeting nearly all of their needs by renewable energy.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Innovative projects in the pipeline</strong></div>
<div>A seasonal buffer storage tank will be one key feature in four projects which are already in the pipeline and will be developed by Abora over the next two or three years: Two of them will be carried out in Saragossa – at the British School and the local university’s faculty of philosophy. The third will supply energy for a sports centre in the region of Catalonia and the last is going to be installed at the Tobazo Hotel close to the French border.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Another plan worth mentioning is a three-phase project developed for a business producing prefabricated houses. During the first phase, 112 PVT collectors will be installed to provide thermal energy for a radiant heating system at company offices. Next summer, they will also be connected to a 30 kW adsorption chiller, which will meet part of the cooling needs. During the third phase, waste heat produced by the chiller will be transferred to a heat pump to raise the temperature from 30 °C to 60 °C and heat a thermal storage system. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>A sunny future</strong></div>
<div>Del Amo expects growing demand for PVT technologies in Spain, as taxes on self-consumed solar electricity were abolished in October 2018. A new law also makes for an easy and demand-based exchange of surplus electricity between multi-family houses and adjacent energy consumers. Solar suppliers are now waiting for the government to establish comprehensive regulation. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Websites of organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>IEA SHC Task 60: <a href="http://task60.iea-shc.org/">http://task60.iea-shc.org/</a></div>
<div>Abora: <a href="https://abora-solar.com/">https://abora-solar.com/</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74631" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Domestic Hot Water and Heating</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74651" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Heat Storage</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44001" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Spain</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/pvt-systems" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">PVT systems</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/multi-family-houses" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">multi-family houses</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/47481" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">hotels</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/keyword/iea-shc-task-60" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC Task 60</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/abora" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Abora</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">IEA SHC</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/36491" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CENER</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_8">
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Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:16:24 +0000Baerbel Epp69942 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/pvt-and-seasonal-storage-innovative-technologies-spain#commentsNew solar energy specialisation master’s programmehttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/new-solar-energy-specialisation-masters-programme
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><img alt=" Simon Furbo, DTU" class="pull-left" height="360" id="body-content-first-image" src="http://solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/simon_furbo.jpg" typeof="Image" width="430" /><strong>In September, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) launched a specialisation on solar energy as part of its master’s degree programme in Sustainable Energy. Students can choose among eight specialisations, for example, bioenergy, electric energy systems, energy savings, and wind energy. The solar energy specialisation takes two years and is divided into two long semesters of 13 and two short ones of 3 weeks each. <em>Solarthermalworld.org</em> has interviewed Associate Professor Simon Furbo, who leads the DTU Research Group on Solar Heating and was among those who created the new offering.</strong></div>
<div>Photo: Simon Furbo, DTU</div>
<div> </div>
<div></div>
<div><strong><em>solarthermalworld.org</em>: What motivated you to call for a solar energy specialisation?</strong></div>
<div><strong>Furbo:</strong> It was a big wish of the research community, specifically our group, to impart know-how as well as specialised knowledge of solar energy to university students. Also, it is the first master’s degree specialisation of its kind in Denmark. The industry really needs well-educated staff to design new and advanced products and learners ‘out in the field’ to exploit the full potential of solar thermal.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><em>solarthermalworld.org</em>: The specialisation covers solar thermal and photovoltaics. Isn’t there a risk that PV could overshadow solar heating due to its greater popularity? </strong></div>
<div><strong>Furbo:</strong> Thanks to a collaboration between university departments, we have devised a well-balanced course curriculum and lectures on solar heating are mandatory. Of course, there is some flexibility when it comes to optional modules and there is a risk of students mainly choosing the all-popular electric option instead of learning more about solar thermal. However, this is something we will have to evaluate in a couple of years when the first group writes their theses.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><em>solarthermalworld.org</em>: How many people do you expect will choose the specialisation?</strong></div>
<div><strong>Furbo: </strong>We received 44 applications and 15 students have already started. It is an acceptable number, since we introduced the specialisation not too long ago. One policy at DTU is that courses for a master’s degree are held in English, as most of those studying the subject come from abroad. My guess is that around 70 % will come from outside Denmark.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><em>solarthermalworld.org</em>: Could you sum up the course programme and tell us how it will benefit those who choose it as part of their studies?</strong></div>
<div><strong>Furbo: </strong>Students will gain a solid understanding of the components of a solar energy system and knowledge about the interplay between them. They will also be taught how a complete system functions, how you can model and size it by using computer simulation software, and what the relations are between solar energy, the energy system and the surrounding environment.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Graduates will be given the means to analyse and design solar energy systems by employing experimental as well as advanced modelling approaches. They will learn about the physics involved, model systems and analyse components. They will also be taught about operational requirements, as well as component and system lifetime, to account for these factors when validating hypotheses during product development.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><em>solarthermalworld.org</em>: You have been conducting research on solar heating for a long time. What are the main issues your research group is currently focused on?</strong></div>
<div><strong>Furbo:</strong> We cover all steps in the development of solar thermal systems. Not only do we employ a climate station to conduct basic research into models to depict diffuse and direct solar radiation, especially given the growing importance of concentrating collectors, but we also study collectors by developing improved devices and entire systems by monitoring multiple innovative solutions installed at different locations. A hot topic is research on long-term heat storage, large-scale, e.g., pit storage, and smaller-scale, for which we study and test new phase change material heat storages.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Lastly, a vital research field is smart heating systems, particularly in the district heating sector. It comprises installations which combine solar thermal, heat pumps and smart storage and are dependent on electricity prices, and new PV-thermal installations and collectors, also combined with heat pumps.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Interview by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>More information:</div>
<div>DTU specialisation in solar energy: <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/education/msc/programmes/sustainable_energy#study-programme__study-lines__solar-energy">https://www.dtu.dk/english/education/msc/programmes/sustainable_energy#s...</a></div>
<div>DTU research group on solar heating: <a href="http://www.solvarme.byg.dtu.dk/solar-heating-in-denmark">http://www.solvarme.byg.dtu.dk/solar-heating-in-denmark</a></div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-six-pillars field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74831" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Training and Education</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44131" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Denmark</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/32971" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Technical University of Denmark</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/dtu" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">DTU</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_9">
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Wed, 26 Sep 2018 05:00:00 +0000Baerbel Epp69857 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/new-solar-energy-specialisation-masters-programme#commentsNew technologies for solar cooling in industryhttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/new-technologies-solar-cooling-industry
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><img class="pull-left" id="body-content-first-image" typeof="Image" src="http://solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/hycool_open.png" width="535" height="288" alt=" HyCool Project" /><strong>The aim of just launched HyCool is to present, in the form of two demonstration plants, new solar heating and cooling technologies for industrial use. The combination of state-of-the-art Fresnel collectors by Austrian supplier Fresnex with custom-built hybrid adsorption-compression chillers by German-based Fahrenheit will broaden the temperature range, creating a portfolio of applications to increase the use of solar heating and cooling for industrial processes.</strong></div>
<div>Photo: Fresnex</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>“Our aim is to demonstrate and promote a new benchmark cooling system for industrial applications,” said Silvia Jane, who works at Spanish utility Veolia, the organisation coordinating the project. “Our HyCool systems have two advantages. They are equipped with hybrid heat pumps, which accept solar electricity or heat, or both, and they achieve twice the COP of conventional heat pumps.” </div>
<div> </div>
<div>HyCool was launched in May and will last for three years. Since it is what the EU calls an Innovation Action, supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, most of its total budget of EUR 7.74 million will be spent on building and monitoring demonstration plants. It has 16 consortium partners, including the owners of the two demonstration sites one from the food processing and one from the chemical sector.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Bo de Debò, a Spanish-based manufacturer of prepared meals, will receive a replicable system designed for small clusters of food companies that require cooling and are in areas of high solar irradiation. For product conservation Bo de Debò needs temperatures of 6 °C to 8 °C in the production hall and 10 °C to 12 °C in the delivery area.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The other, more complex, pilot plant will go to flavour and fragrance producer Givaudan, headquartered in Switzerland. The system will be installed at its factory near Barcelona in Spain, where the Fresnel collector will be used for direct steam generation in combination with a steam storage tank made of phase change material. The chiller will run exclusively on solar energy and excess heat in the form of steam will be injected into the company’s pipeline network.<br /> </div>
<div><img alt="Source: HyCool" title="Source: HyCool" height="248" width="535" style="margin: 7px 5px;" class="media-element file-default img-responsive" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.solarthermalworld.org/sites/default/files/hycool_01.png" /></div>
<div><strong>New generation of hybrid adsorption-compression heat pump developed by Fahrenheit</strong></div>
<div>Source: HyCool</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>First-ever component demonstration</strong></div>
<div>Both locations will serve as the first-ever testing grounds for the two key components of the solar thermal cooling system. The compact Fresnel collector has been optimised for installation on the roofs of industrial facilities. It consists of prefabricated, factory-tested 10 m² mirror-modules featuring relatively narrow mirror strips. The gaps between these strips are small to increase the space-yield ratio. The distance from the mirrors to the middle of the receiver is 2.5 meters only.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The hybrid sorption-compression chiller can be powered by electricity as well as waste heat or solar energy. It has a sorption unit, the evaporator of which cools the condenser of a vapour compression chiller in order to raise the maximum electrical COP.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Predesign studies list a Fresnel solar field of 400 m² at Bo de Debò and 800 m² at Givaudan. Peak solar output should be at least twice as much as chiller capacity if the goal is to balance energy generation and consumption and showcase an improved energy distribution system.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>The article was written by Riccardo Battisti, a solar thermal consultant and market researcher working at Ambiente Italia (Rome, Italy).</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Websites of organisations mentioned in this article:</div>
<div>Veolia: <a href="https://www.veolia.es/es">https://www.veolia.es/es</a></div>
<div>HyCool Project: <a href="http://hycool-project.eu/">http://hycool-project.eu/</a></div>
<div>Bo de Debò: <a href="http://www.bodedebo.com">www.bodedebo.com</a></div>
<div>Fahrenheit: <a href="https://fahrenheit.cool/en/">https://fahrenheit.cool/en/</a></div>
<div>Fresnex: <a href="http://www.fresnex.com">http://www.fresnex.com</a></div>
<div>Ecotherm: <a href="http://www.ecotherm.com">www.ecotherm.com</a></div>
<div>Givaudan: <a href="http://www.givaudan.com">www.givaudan.com</a></div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74751" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-market-sectors field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74661" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Process Heat</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/solar_cooling" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Solar Cooling</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-six-pillars field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/74841" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Awareness Raising</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-country field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44001" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Spain</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44081" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Austria</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43941" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Germany</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/44171" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Switzerland</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-keyword field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/hycool" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">HyCool</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/64541" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fresnel collectors</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/keyword/horizon-2020" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Horizon 2020</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-companies field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/23031" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ambiente Italia</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/fresnex" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fresnex</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/fahrenheit" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fahrenheit</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/veolia" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Veolia</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/companies/bo-de-debo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Bo de Debò</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/companies/givaudan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Givaudan</a></div></div></div><span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_target addtoany_list" id="da2a_10">
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Fri, 14 Sep 2018 06:50:14 +0000Baerbel Epp69848 at https://www.solarthermalworld.orghttps://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/new-technologies-solar-cooling-industry#comments